Scan barcode
doodeedoda's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
ngl as an archeology graduate the description of how the pithos was dated was... something.
taking a sample from the vase to do a 'stratigraphy analysis'? a stratigraphy analysis on an out-of-context vase?? and then to be like "it predates history itself"??? yeah bs.
taking a sample from the vase to do a 'stratigraphy analysis'? a stratigraphy analysis on an out-of-context vase?? and then to be like "it predates history itself"??? yeah bs.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol and Vomit
beanqueen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Love a book that absolutely transports me to a different time/place and really paints a picture in my mind. To me this read a little bit Indiana Jones, a little bit Dickens, a little bit Nancy Drew, all of it really fun and I tore through it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death of parent
molly_greenshields's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Susan Stokes-Chapman certainly brings something different to the Greek retelling trend with Pandora, blending mythology with historical realism in this Georgian-style mystery. The characters were complex, the plot was fun and I found myself not wanting to put the book down once I reached the last hundred or so pages (I will never be recovered enough to talk about Hermes). Having said that, I don't think it really needed to be 400 pages long in the first place: the prose was dense and relatively slow-moving for the most part and... there just wasn't the same lyrical beauty of Circe or Ariadne (sorry). All in all though, this was a fun read and a rather refreshing take on what's fast-becoming an over-saturated genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Gore
Moderate: Violence, Animal death, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
gondorgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Animal death, and Gore
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
currant7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
POV: third person
Main characters: Pandora Blake and Edward Lawrence
Pandora (Dora for short) is an orphaned girl whose uncle (Hezekiah) took her under his care and continued with their family business of selling antiques. She aspires to continue with the antique shop and add her jewelry design drawings to the business. Little does she know that her uncle had other things in mind when a precious cargo arrived at their shop one fateful day that would affect Dora and the people around her.
The world-building was sufficient and suitable. The places, people, and clothing depicted the 1780s well. There was enough research on antiquities and the society that governs them.
The characters were relatable, and the connection between Dora and Edward (Lawrence) - their shared trauma and thus their attraction was subtle but fitted perfectly.
This book is more character-driven than a plot one. Things moved more because each character's actions later constituted dire consequences - i.e., Uncle Hezekiah's injury and bad luck.
Overall, I found Pandora slower than expected, but I understood the reason for this much better after everything. There were many clues and hints sprinkled throughout the book that later culminated in an ending I did not see coming. Granted that it seems so "lucky" for Dora, BUT I get it. The twists and revelations were executed well at the end. Sometimes, bad things do come back to "bite back" the evil ones. I appreciate how much research the author did to create the story, and it made me love the book a lot more! (Please read through the author's notes at the end of the book, and you will see why.)
Recommended for its:
- myths and mythology reimagination
- mystery and intrigue
Trigger Warning: death of a beloved animal, parents, and sibling, child abuse, domestic violence/abuse
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
death of a beloved animal, parents, and sibling, child abuse, domestic violence/abusebookchatwithbeth's review against another edition
Finding it really slow, and would want to be a lot more invested than this nearly 150 pages in, especially as it isn’t a very long book.
A shame, as I was really interested in the premise as I’m very interested in romantic era Hellenism and this promised to offer that as well as be as “irresistible “ “intriguing “ and “suspenseful “ as endorsements on the cover claimed. It’s just so slow!!
A shame, as I was really interested in the premise as I’m very interested in romantic era Hellenism and this promised to offer that as well as be as “irresistible “ “intriguing “ and “suspenseful “ as endorsements on the cover claimed. It’s just so slow!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
ell_n's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Animal death
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
booksemmahasread's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Emotional abuse, Animal death, and Death of parent
abbie_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Quite wonderful!! My favourite kind of historical fiction, incredibly immersive, compelling characters, a marvellous sense of atmosphere. I had to suspend my disbelief a little towards the end but honestly I had such a good time reading this that I didn’t really care.
If you enjoyed Sarah Winman’s Still Life then I think you’ll enjoy this too!
Thanks to the publisher for my free review copy!
If you enjoyed Sarah Winman’s Still Life then I think you’ll enjoy this too!
Thanks to the publisher for my free review copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
If you’re squeamish, the injury detail in this book doesn’t hold back! Lots of pus and weeping wounds.heather_freshparchment's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
Minor: Physical abuse, Confinement, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Vomit